Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-30
THE PLUMAS AFFAIR.
PROTECTING HYDRAULIC MINING
BY INTIMIDATION.
Statement OF the Goyernment's Rep
resentatives Who were Driven
Out-The Other Side.


UNION yesterday concerning the action of
hydraulic miners at Quincy, Plumas county,
who drove out Government officials sent
there for information desired by the United
States District Attorney was the subject of
general comment for the w-defying spirit
evinced. The following, from the Marys-
vile Appeal, gives more complete facts con-
cerning the affair referred to:
L. F. Bassett, City Engineer of Sacramento,
acce mpanled by Deputy United States Marshal
III. B. higgins, of Suffer county, arrived here
yesterday from Quincy, Plumas county, by way
of Oroville. Mr.. BaSsett had been commissioned
by Captain Pavson, of the United States Corps
of Engineers on this coast, to visit the hydraulic
mining field of Plumas county to gather in.
formation upon which United States District
Attorney Carey could base anti-debris suits. He
was authorized to take with him an assistant,
and chose Mr.. Higgins They report that they
had been forced 10 leave Plumas county by
threats of violence. and were in fear of their
lives. To an appeal reporter they made a state
ment substantially as follows:
Their first visit to PluInas county was made
on April 7th. After they were fairly started in
their work and had visited few mines. u large
number of the citizens of Quincy and vicinity
on the evening of april 9th, held a meeting in
the law Office Of Hon j. D. Goodwin, at which
the visitors were termed spies and yigorously
OF John Bennett, eX-County Recorder of Plu-
mas: Samuel Goodwin, Superintendent of the
Hungarian Hill hydraulic mine (owned by the
Hon. j. ID. Goodwin and Joseph Kelley, and
Andrew Hall, a saloon-keeper OF Quincy, were
appointed to wait on Bassett and higgins and
inform them that
THEIR PRESENCE WAS NOT WANTED.
And they would be given until the following
day at noon 10 leave the county and never re-
turn. The committee gave them to understand
that If they did not so, they were likely to meet
with personal violence and would have to take
the consequences They informed the commit
tee that they could not well leave next day. as
it was Sunday and there were no stages going
out. The committee finally consented thatthe
should remain until Monday morning, provided
they did not leave town to visit any mines. The
committee informed them that during the meet
ing it took cool heads to hold the citizens pres
ent within the bounds of reason. Next day
different parties told them that they were likely
to be tarred and feathered. or ridden out of
town ON rail, or perhaps meet with still
harsher treatment. However, they remained
until Monday morning, when they departed,
and in a few days reported at San Francisco to
A. n. Payson, Captain OF Engineers, United
States Army. After Il consultation with the
United States District Attorney, General j. T.
Carey, written instructions were given by Cap
tain Payson to Mr. Bassett, TO proceed TO Plumas
county, examine the hydraulic mining field and
obtain the Information desired by the United
States District Attorney. Written instructions
were given in order to show that the parties
and under the direction of the United States
Government. Mr.. Bassett, accompanied by Mr.
higgins (who is regularly deputized United
States Marshal), again proceeded to Piumas
county. They at once found that
THEY WOULD MEET WITH DISTRACTIONS
At points where they intended to stop to obtain
information they were refused accommodations
and were compelled in consequence to continue
on TO Quincy. Arrived at Quincy they heard of
NyuIf cd or Nv
parties composing the previous committee and
warned TO leave the county. The proprietress of
the hotel at Quincy was threatened with incen-
dlarism in case she permitted them to remain
at her place. They also learned that they
would be unable to get horses with which to
visit the mines located at a distance On their
arrival at Quincy, runners were sent out in
every direction to wam the hydraulic miners to
cease operations where they were working
mines in violation of the injunctions of the
Courts, and calling them together for a meeting
at Quincy in the evening Shortly after the
hydraulic miners and Others interested in or
benefited by hydraulic mining, began to collect
Many of them were very much excited and de-
nounced in vigorous language the presence of
what they were pleased to call spies and lin
formers, their fear being that they should be
caught in their unlawful acts and punished
as they properly deserve, for CONTEMPT of Court.
The actions of many of the crowd became so
boiste Gus and their threats SO violent from
free indulgence of intoxicating drink that
Messrs. Bassett and higgins, considering
DISCRETION THE BETTER PART OF yALoR,
Concluded to leave town. Not only were they
warned in this way, but members of the
Order of odd Fellows TO which both gentle
men belong) came TO them and informed
them that 1t was not safe TO remain in
the country; They accordingly walked sew
eral miles before they arrived at a point
where they considered it safe TO stop and put up
for the night. During their travel through the
country and their examinations of such mines
as they were able to visit, they learned of sew
eral which are being operated in violation of the
injunctions of the Courts. At one, loeated at
Michigan Hill as they were about to leave the
vicinity OF the mine, they were met by the own
er, John Higgins, armed with double-barreled
shotgun, both barrels cooked, who, by his looks
and actions gave them to understand that they
should not wait on the order of their going, but
go at once. This man has fitted up his mine TO
work at night, and il lies close along the pub
lie road, has taken extra precautions to avoid
being detected. He has moved his plant out of
lhe ola location. leaving everything to indicate
that he has abandoned the mine and quit work
He has moved further up and behind the hill
and has covered his pipe with brush to prevent
Its being seen. At the mine the arrangements
are all Tor work at night, by the use of light
from burning fire-wcod. At Nelson Point is To-
Gated mine owned by William Metcalf and
others, which is under Injunction but it is new
erthelesS being worked by hydraulic process
Metcaf himself asserts this fact, says he cannot
deny IL and does not intend to deny it. He
DEFIEs ANYONE TO INTERFERE
With him. He sent word that if any persons
came around to look after him, they would be
hanged. or meet with harsh treatment from
himself and others of the vicinity The hy-
draulic miners. generally, of Plumss county.
are very defiant, publicly announce their inten-
tentlon OF operating their mines in violation of
the DEGREES OF the Court whether State or Fed
eral, and to resist interference with them by
every means in their power, They are backed
by the almost unanimous sentiment of the
whole community, the hydraulic miners having
succeeded in creating the impression that aji
classes of mining are threatened and must
stand or fall together. In consequence mer-
chants. professional men and farmers take sioes
with the hydraulic miners, as it is a community
having but little intercourse with the outside
world, ana all are more or less dependent on
mining in general. Messrs. Bas. ett and Rig
gins report those most prominent in street spi-
tation at Quincy TO be Hugh Porter ex-District
Attorney OF Piumas county, DR.. Gordon, form
erly a resident OF Knights Landing ard Dixon
and William Metcalf, hydraulic miner.
The outrageous reatment of the representa-
tives of the United States Government by the
hyCrauHc mining outlaws of Plumas county
was the talk of this city last evening The gen
eral sentiment was that it would result in great
benefit TO the anti-debris cause as the Goyerp-
ment OF the United States will not low its rep
resentatives to be set at defiance by handful
OF outlaws in California or else where News of
the lawless condition of Plumas county has
been telegraphed over the whole country, aud
will make Il sensation for all the papers to-
day.
FURTHER FACTS.
In addition to the above statement Mr..
Bassett, who arrived in Sacramento vester-
day, stated to O. reporter of the RECORD
UNION, upon being asked for any further
facts, that the general feeling in the Plu-
mas hydraulic region was very hostile TO
aDV action on the mart of thp valley neotla